Sharky's Machine (1981)

Director:

Burt Reynolds

Writers:

William Diehl (novel)
Gerald Di Pego (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Nobody leans on Sharky's Machine. [Theatrical]

Plot:

Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division...

Plot Keywords:

Prostitution | Vice | Murder | Gangster | Surveillance

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Burt Reynolds	...	Sgt. Tom Sharky
Vittorio Gassman	...	Victor
Brian Keith	...	Papa
Charles Durning	...	Friscoe
Earl Holliman	...	Hotchkins
Bernie Casey	...	Arch
Henry Silva	...	Billy Score
Richard Libertini	...	Nosh
Darryl Hickman	...	Smiley
Rachel Ward	...	Dominoe
Joseph Mascolo	...	Joe Tipps
Carol Locatell	...	Mabel
Hari Rhodes	...	Highball Mary
John Fiedler	...	Barrett
James O'Connell	...	Twigs

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1982) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | Norway:16 (1982) | Norway:18 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Deliverance Productions

Trivia:

Stunt man Dar Robinson, doubling for Henry Silva at the end of the film, dropped 220 feet, setting a record for the highest free fall (wireless) jump from a building in a film.

Goofs:

Plot holes: On the boat, Smiley tells Sharky, "When you went to see the man, you really pissed him off... you should have just turned[Dominoe] in. She'd be dead, but Nosh, Jo Jo and all your friends would be alive." But the way the movie is edited, Nosh and Jo Jo were killed before Sharkey went to see Victor to tell him Dominoe is still alive.

Quotes:

Sharky: You know Frisco, when we used to flush the toilet upstairs, we always wondered where it came to...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jackie Brown (1997)

Soundtrack:

Before You

Superb Reynold's Action Classic!

Burt Reynold's Direct's and star's in this great Cop film, Reynold's play's the Sharkey of the title, who is a tough cop whilst working in undercover a drug bust goes wrong, and is demoted to vice,

The machine of the title refer's to the motley crew Reynold's's assemble's to bring down a crooked governor who is involved in high class prostitution Cocaine and contract murder,

The motley crew is played by Brian Keith, Blackploitaion favorite Bernie Casey, Richard Libertini,(as alway's quirky as an ace sounds-man) Charle's Durning, as the chief, The beautiful English rose Rachael Ward play's Dominoe a $1000 dollar's a night hooker whom Reynold's's protect's and eventually fall's for, When staking out an apartment used by the governor.

Italian actor Vittorio Gassman, play's the High stake's pimp, who has a deadly gang of triad's at his disposal, And Henry DeSilva, play's His psychotic brother hit man who is highly strung On prescription painkiller's and angel Dust,

The action packed finale see's the remaining member's of the 'Machine' Engaged in a deadly shootout with Desilva, which culminate's in one the Most spectacular stunt's ever put to Celluloid,

Alas Hollywood has ran out of idea's and is contemplating a remake of Sharky's Machine! Why bother a 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD would be ideal, not a silly ass remake,